Tag Archives: news

Ennis woman Irene Hehir shares her struggle with depression in the hope of helping others to seek help. IRENE Hehir describes herself as an “everyday girl living in the town of Ennis”. She has a good life, she has a good job, she has a great family and a great network of friends, but behind it all she was struggling with her mental health. To everyone who knew her, including those closest to her, the now 42 year old, was “Happy go Larry”, “the life and soul of the party”. Her outward life was about being seen to be “having the craic”, “being pure bould, carrying on and having a laugh”. But inside she was in turmoil. Her parents, extended family and friends, who have always been so supportive, didn’t know any of this was going on. In her early teens Irene was systematically bullied, and a physical assault which rendered her unconscious left her in constant fear. Although she …

The health and safety authority is investigating the death of a man in his early 70s at a farm in Feakle. It is understood the man was found at a work yard on the farm by a relative in the early hours of this morning, Tuesday. Gardaí scenes of crime attended the scene and currently the HSA is carrying out an investigation into the death. A garda PSV inspector is due to carry out an inspection of a tractor which was at the scene.

GARDAI swooped in on drug dealers who were using a wooded area in Broadford, County Clare to stash cocaine after eagle-eyed birdwatchers called in suspicious activity in the area. The game was up when birdwatchers spotted more than avian activity while in a forested area in the townland of Fermoyle and this prompted them to alert the gardaí that someone was falling fowl of the law. On foot of the information an intelligence led operation was put into place with gardaí in Killaloe and Limerick flocking to stake out the area. Drugs, which are suspected to be cocaine and valued in the region of €40,000 were uncovered on foot of the operation at Fermoyle in Broadford on Wednesday night last [January 25]. Inspector David Finnerty of Killaloe Garda Station confirmed that an “intelligence-led operation” was launched focusing on the wooded area in Broadford last week. He said with the assistance of the Clare Divisional Drugs Unit and Limerick gardaí an …

October 19, 2017Comments Off on Skeletal Remains in Fanore are those of woman buried at Sea

Gardaí have confirmed that the skeletal remains that washed up on the Fanore coast last month were those of a woman buried at sea in 2016. Superintendent John Galvin of Kilrush Garda Station said the family of the deceased have been informed and they are no longer investigating the matter. He said the deceased woman had been buried off the West coast following her death in 2016. The remains were found by walkers on September 19 last at Poulsallagh in Fanore. Following a post mortem and DNA analysis the identity of the deceased was established and contact was subsequently made with the family.

October 5, 2017Comments Off on West Clare Man Facing Trial Over Fatal Inagh Crash

A 60-year-old West Clare man has appeared in court this week charged with dangerous driving causing the death of three-year-old Estlin Wall in Inagh earlier this year. Senan O’Flaherty, with an address at Lower Gowerhass, Cooraclare appeared before Ennis District Court on Wednesday. He is charged with dangerous driving causing the death of Estlin Wall at Ballyea South, Inagh on March 15, 2017. The substance of the charge alleges that the defendant drove in a manner, including speed, which, having regard to the circumstances of the case, was dangerous to the public thereby, causing the death of Estlin Wall. Garda Ruth O’Sullivan gave evidence of arresting Mr O’Flaherty at 9.45pm on Monday, September 30 at his address. She said he made no reply after caution in respect of the single charge of dangerous driving causing death. Solicitor Joe Chambers, representing the defendant in court, said he did not have an application for free legal aid. Inspector Tom Kennedy, prosecuting, outlined that the Director of Public Prosecutions had directed that the case proceed on indictment to the Circuit Criminal Court for trial. He said a Book of Evidence would be required in the matter and requested an adjournment to facilitate this. Judge Patrick Durcan, presiding, adjourned the case to December 13 next and granted an application to extend time to serve the Book of Evidence in the case. It is expected that the book will be served on the accused on that date Estlin Luna Wall was the daughter of Amy Dutil Wall and Vincent Wall from Ennistymon and was a sister to Mannix. She died just 11 days shy of her fourth birthday. Her dad, Vincent, is the brother of Steve and Joe Wall of the band The Stunning. He was also in the car on the day she was killed. The family, who run a framing business in Ennistymon, made the decision to donate Estlin’s organs before taking her off life support a number of days after the crash. Arising from the tragedy, Steve Wall set up an online fund to help the family and it received a significant amount of support, with more than €70,000 raised for the family. Donations above this were made to Temple Street Children’s Hospital. In memory of Estlin, her former créche, Inagh Ark Childcare, planted a pink cherry blossom tree. They said when they look at it, they will recall Estlin as “the most beautiful girl with curly fair hair”, “funny, witty, playful and loveable. She had a heart of gold and the most infectious smile”.

Gardaí in Ennis are still carrying out enquiries following the robbery of the Xtra Vision store in the Market early Monday morning, which was held up by a man brandishing what is believed to be a hammer. The incident occurred at approximately 7.30am, when the store was being opened by a member of staff. It is understood that the male employee was approached by a lone male, who was brandishing a weapon, after the alarm of the shop was de-activated. This person then made demands for cash from the employee. The suspect is understood to have had a hoodie covering his head, shielding his identity. The employee was not injured in the incident, which lasted a matter of minutes and the culprit fled the scene having stolen a quantity of cash. It is not yet clear in what direction he travelled. Gardai are currently gathering and viewing CCTV from the property and other businesses in the town. A description of …

County Clare residents are currently casting their number one preference votes at polling stations across the county for the 2014 local and European elections. A total of 90,620 people living in Clare are entitled to vote in the local election which sees 69 candidates battle it out for 28 seats across the four municipal districts: Ennis; West; Shannon; and Killaloe. Among them was 82 year old Clare man JJ Barry who voted for the first time in Ireland. An emigrant in England for 63 years, JJ returned to Kilkee in West Clare two years ago. A man with a keen interest in politics, JJ was delighted with the opportunity to vote in County Clare. “I wanted to vote now because I don’t know how many years I have left. I always wanted to have a vote but in my time, there was no voting in Ireland until you were 21. I was 19 when I emigrated,” he revealed. All polling …

CIARAN Ennis has laughed his way to a national title. The founder of the locally based Ennis Laughter Dragons was named Irish Laughter Champion in Galway at the weekend. “It felt brilliant to be named the winner, and I will definitely be back next year to defend my title,” he told us. The event was held in aid of Galway charity, Jigsaw, a free and confidential support service for young people, their mental health and wellbeing. Ciaran and Angie Lindenau, lead the Laughter Dragons, a laughter yoga club, every Tuesday at 6pm in the Gaelscoil. The community laughter group meet to explore the benefits of laughter yoga. He explained, “It’s a group where we meet once a week and it’ all about learning to laugh for no reason at all. We use laughter yoga, which comes from India. And we use laughter as an exercise, its one of the most powerful, dynamic exercises. The whole reason why we use laughter …